FAHA: Biased Competetions

[Bob Steele]

I have to interject a small point here.
Who really pays for the regionals?
Several posts have indicated that various sponsors pay for them...
Do the math...
50 teams X $4000 entry fee each is $200,000

WE pay for the regional... and yet our sponsors don't get mentioned..often times all our sponsors and mentors get is a small acknowledgement during the awards ceremony.

I would love to see what the real figures are for a regional and what has been paid out. I have seen a figure of $200,000 bandied about for the cost to put on a regional. I just wonder where the money goes...

sorry to vent... but sometimes these questions must be asked...

[KenWittlief]

the $4000 you pay doesnt all goto the regional costs

the Kit-o-parts is very expensive

and there is the entire FIRST organization that is funded

to make a local regional happen requires some major local sponsors - I dont know the figures, but its huge.

[Chris Fultz]

While there might be some that take advantage of specific situations, I think the majority of people and companies that play multiple roles work hard to separate them and avoid any perception of a conflict.

Many of the judges, referees and other volunteers at an event are also a part of another team. They may have others teams they especially like or dislike for some reason, but they leave it at the door when they come to volunteer. The events are better with people who play multiple roles because they can bring a perspective that someone totally independent from a team can bring.

As with everything in life, there will some who appear to get special treatment - the teachers kid, the coaches daughter, the sponsors team, but I would say most of the time that is really not the case.

As for the cost - I can't say if it is too high or not. We were just at the Phoenix Regional. FIRST had to rent the facility for at least 5 days - 1 to set up, 1 for practice, 2 for competition, and another to clean up and leave. Everything had to be shipped there and to the next stop. There were computers, video cameras, projectors, volunteers to be fed, medals to purchase, and on and on. None of it comes cheap and often facility rules will dictate what volunteers can do and what must be done by paid facility people.